Given that I use RSS feeds to pull my content into other sites (facebook, my portfolio, etc.), I sometimes get caught up in the ease of use and forget that RSS is a really a form of syndication.

Hmm… today I came across this interesting post via my google reader: a brief discussion of some of the issues surrounding copyright and RSS.

So, if I don’t allow sharing of my images in my image gallery, but then I crosspost them via RSS, I should probably make sure I have a copyright statement in the feed, too(?) I do allow some selected image usage licensed under creative commons for some of my work at flickr (images which do not live in my image gallery). Sigh, it’s all very complicated.

On the other hand (and in another mailbox), I received a link to the nifty copyright slider, i.e., a online tool to check the potential copyright clearance needed…and really, if you are still confused about creative commons, may I suggest this (again):

An article I wrote for moonshine…—————————-Did you know that the Internet Archive not only archives the web but that it has much opensource, public domain or creative commons licensed material? For those of you who do digital work, the Internet Archive may be the best kept secret on the web!

If you do any kind of digital work (images, websites, videos, audio recordings, etc.) and you haven’t checked out the Internet Archive you really should. The IA has great stuff for digital collagists, movie makers, & other arty folks. It’s remarkable the diversity and variety of material available for use (and free!).

Although I’m not a legal expert by any means, I’ll attempt to explain my understanding of the different licensing under creative commons and how it applies to use. If you have any questions or to find the latest version of licensing agreements, please do check out the Creative Commons website.

Creative Commons is a form of licensing which easily allows users (such as musicians, artists, and just regular folks!) the ability to upload content and share or not share it, as they would like. Copyright ranges from All rights reserved (no use by others) to Public Domain (freely used for any purpose). Creative Commons attempts to define the grey area in the middle.

Internet Archives serves as a repository of content. Explore, enjoy, be inspired, and create!

To add a search keyword to this (add AND – in caps! – and the term/metadata/licenseurl:http*abbreviation/* AND

Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives (by-nc-nd) : This license means that you can only use the material noncommercially EXACTLY as it is (no collage work, no mashups, etc.) , provided that you provide an attribution (credit).

In the search box: /metadata/licenseurl:http*by-nc-nd/*Example:/metadata/licenseurl:http*by-nc-nd/* AND pottery

Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa) : This license means that you can ONLY use the material noncommercially IF any creation that stems from the work under this licensed is publicly shared (Share Alike) under the same license, PROVIDED that you provide an attribution (credit).

In the search box: /metadata/licenseurl:http*by-nc-sa/*

Example:/metadata/licenseurl:http*by-nc-sa/* AND pottery

Attribution Non-commercial (by-nc) : This license means that you can ONLY use the material noncommercially, PROVIDED that you provide an attribution (credit).

In the search box: /metadata/licenseurl:http*by-nc*

Example:/metadata/licenseurl:http*by-nc* AND pottery

Attribution Share Alike (by-sa) : This license means that you can use the material commercially or noncommercially IF any creation that stems from the work under this licensed is publicly shared (Share Alike) under the same license, PROVIDED that you provide an attribution (credit).

In the search box: /metadata/licenseurl:http*by-sa*

Example:/metadata/licenseurl:http*by* AND pottery

Attribution (by) : This license means that you can use the material commercially or noncommercially, PROVIDED that you provide an attribution (credit).

The Internet Archive also includes items in the Public Domain. These are the most freely available materials in terms of licensing (i.e., there is none!) The majority of these materials are older materials for which copyright has long expired. However, users can choose to submit their works to the IA as public domain.

/metadata/licenseurl:http*publicdomain*Example:/metadata/licenseurl:http*publicdomain* AND pottery